Bikies, gay panic in last Qld sitting week

The Queensland government will prioritise passing laws to replace the state's anti-bikie legislation in the final sitting week of the year.

Debate on Labor's Serious and Organised Crime Legislation Amendment Bill began earlier this month, however the Liberal National Party opposition has long argued its existing framework is in no need of reform.

Among the Palaszczuk government's altered provisions are harsher sentences for fraud and child sex offences and a NSW-style consorting offence to replace the current law against bikie gathering in a group of three or more.

With the opposition against the changes, Labor will need the support of cross benchers in the hung parliament for its bill to pass.

"The message, very clearly, to Katter party members and independents is if you support this government's legislation to wind back our tough anti-gang laws, you will be opening the door to the crims coming back into Queensland," he said.

Labor is aiming to introduce seven bills across the three final sitting days of the year, including proposed legislation on mental health, water and dam safety and child protection.

Related Articles

The government will also introduce a bill to scrap the state's so-called "gay panic" defence, which murderers can use to argue for a downgrade in their charge to manslaughter if they claim the violence was motivated by an unwanted homosexual advance.

That change has already taken place in every state but Queensland and South Australia - some as far back as 2003.

A Change.org petition calling for reform has attracted more than 289,000 signatures.